On Saturday, March 5, 2016, Dr. Bradley Nassif—Antiochian author, speaker, professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, and member of Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Christian Church in Warrenville, IL—will be moderating a new speaker's series titled, "Engaging Orthodoxy." Metropolitan Kallistos Ware is the keynote speaker for this first event, and the Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary, along with other notable Orthodox leaders, will be the respondents.

Osama Khoury, 47, of Poughkeepsie, NY, passed away on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. Osama was born on March 30, 1968 in Palestine to the V. Rev. Fr. Michael and Khourieh Amal Khoury of Taybeh, Ramallah. He was married to Rula El Kawaneh Khoury, on May 30, 1993.

Osama received a Bachelor of Science Degree at Long Island University and served as a pharmacist at CVS in Pleasant Valley, NY. A resident of the Hudson Valley for over 20 years, Osama was previously employed at Rite Aid Pharmacy. He had accomplished his goal of opening his own pharmacy in Gibsonia, PA, named Gibsonia Pharmacy and Health Center.

Osama loved the outdoors. He enjoyed camping and loved serving the community. He was an active member of Saint James Orthodox Church in Hyde Park, NY.

In addition to his mother, Khourieh Amal, Osama is survived by his loving wife Rula, his sons, Michael and Gabriel, as well as his daughter Amal, his brother Ibrahim (Rula) Khoury of Pittsburgh, PA, and his sisters Hannan (V. Rev Fr. Yacoub) Khoury, Ramallah Palestine and Iman (Issam) Muaddi.

The viewing will be held at Saint James Church, 441 Violet avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY on Friday, February 26 at 5pm-8pm and Saturday, February 27 at 4pm-7pm. The Funeral Services will be on Sunday, February 28 at 4 o'clock.

His Grace Bishop Antoun with the newly-elevated Father SabaAlthough the actual elevation of a Priest to the dignity of Archpriest may take only a few minutes, the preparations for this sacred event begin far in advance. Ten years in advance. Once a seminarian is ordained to the Diaconate and later to the Priesthood, he then faithfully serves the Church as pastor, teacher, confessor, spiritual father, and other less notable yet equally important roles over the course of ten years before he can be considered for Elevation to the dignity of Archpriest. During each of these ten years, the Priest will lead his parish through the beautiful seasons of the Church calendar, cultivating a spirit of love and unity. There will be scores of homilies delivered during Sunday Liturgies, the joy of baptisms, the sorrow of memorials, countless hours of counsel, discovering a leak in the Church roof, discovering a second leak in the Church roof, fundraising to fix the leaking roof. Through all this the Priest will gain the love and respect of his parishioners. As an outpouring of gratitude and deepest appreciation, those parishioners will in turn voice to their Bishop the desire to have their Priest elevated to the dignity of Archpriest in recognition of his devotion to the Church and Her members.

Word has been received of the falling asleep in Christ this past weekend of Khouria Jedonne Rhudy, wife of F.r Stephen Rhudy, formerly of St John the Forerunner in Cedar Park, TX. Condolences may be sent to Fr. Stephen and family at frstephenrhudy@gmail.com.

The first-ever complete guide to monasteries in the United States, Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Monasteries, has been released by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. The Atlas can be purchased ($ 19.95) on Amazon.com or directly from the publisher, the Holy Cross Orthodox Press, and was made possible by a grant from the Virginia H. Farah Foundation and the Cottonwood Foundation.

Drawing on extensive research, as well as fascinating stories and "insider" anecdotes, the Atlas offers readers:·a scholarly introduction into traditions of Eastern Christian monasticism and a history of Orthodox monasteries in America,·a full and comprehensive directory of nearly 80 American Orthodox Christian monasteries, and·an enticing travel guide for those seeking to visit American monasteries and to "sample" monastic life.

In addition, twenty-three featured monasteries share their "personal stories" and offer a glimpse in the surprising spiritual appeal of monastic life in 21st century America.

Edited by Alexei Krindatch, the book's 150 pages of text are accompanied by four sets of color maps and more than one hundred photographs depicting everyday lives of America's Orthodox monasteries. The Atlas is "album size," or 9 x 11.

Sherry was born on December 4, 1948 and raised in Woodward, Oklahoma. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. Shortly after graduation, she married Don Abraham and moved to Wichita, Kansas. They had two daughters, Candace and Ginger. Don and Sherry owned and operated Ali Baba Bakery for 19 years. The bakery specialized in pita bread, but eventually made over 100 different varieties. She worked full time at the bakery with Don until he was diagnosed with cancer in 1994, and they sold their business. Sherry worked on weekends at Abe's Steak House, a restaurant owned by Don's family. Don passed away on February 28, 1995.

In November 2003, Sherry married Mark Morrow. Their blended family consists of two sons, three daughters, two sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, five granddaughters and four grandsons. Mark and Sherry split their time between Wichita and Oklahoma City and were active in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian churches in both communities – St. George Cathedral in Wichita and St. Elijah Church in Oklahoma City. At St. George Cathedral, Sherry served as the Chairman of the annual Lebanese dinner and was the Baklawa Chairman for many years, perfecting the process of making enough baklawa to serve more than 5,500 people!

"They grew up in Damascus in a time before Syria was a synonym in the Western mind for chaos and religious extremism. Reem Hoff and Rouba Heckenlively grew up a half-hour's walk from each other, both in families that practiced their Syrian Orthodox Christian faith openly among Muslims. Rouba's mother and Reem's aunt were friends. By coincidence, both women met American travelers who were visiting monasteries. Both women ended up living as American citizens in a suburb of Waco."

So begins a recent Waco Tribune-Herald article featuring the extraordinary story of two families from St. Andrew Orthodox Church, an Antiochian mission in Waco. In November 2015, investigative reporter J.B. Smith began contacting Syrians in Central Texas to get their take on the provocative words of a Texas state official, who had likened Syrians entering the U.S. to "rattlesnakes" ready to strike. Smith soon found there were a number of Syrian Christians in the area, a fact which defied the simplistic and false stereotype of all Middle East immigrants as "extremists" and "radicals" – this led him to contact St. Andrew parish priest Fr. John Ballard, who put the reporter in touch with the Hoff and Heckenlively families.

As we anticipate the start of the Lenten season in March, three of the senior statesmen in the ranks of Antiochian clergy have offered reflections for our spiritual edification: Archpriest George Shalhoub, Economos Antony Gabriel, and Archpriest Joseph Antypas.

"As our nation celebrates the feast of love, Valentine’s Day," writes Fr. George Shalhoub, pastor of The Basilica of St. Mary, Livonia, MI, "it brings with it the measures of marketing and the things that most of us have come to believe will make the wrong right, and the right better. Valentine’s Day will be celebrated by the exchanging of love with flowers, candy, dinner or surprise trips. It has become one more thing to do because others are doing it, and many find it is easier to purchase something than act." Read more

Memory Eternal! Kh. Lukie Neustrom with the late Fr. ThomasMemory Eternal! Khouria Lucia "Lukie" Neustrom, retired from All Saints Orthodox Church, Salina, KS, peacefully fell asleep in Christ on February 12, 2016, at the age of 95. Condolences may be sent to Khouria Lukie's family via Fr. Daniel Griffith of All Saints in Salina, at frdanielg@gmail.com. Divine services for Khouria Lukie will be held at All Saints, and funeral arrangements are as follows: Visitation at All Saints, Tuesday, February 16, from 5:00-8:00PM with Trisagion Prayers of Mercy at 7:30PM, and the Funeral at All Saints on Wednesday, February 17, at 10:00AM.

February 11, 2016 (South Canaan, PA) — St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary has announced the creation of three new scholarships for students who attend the seminary with the blessing of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

“It is a great joy to announce the creation of these three new full scholarships,” His Eminence Archbishop Michael, Seminary Rector, said. “The scholarships will cover tuition, room, and board, allowing these seminarians to focus on their priestly formation and enter ministry in the Holy Orthodox Church without any debt.”

The scholarships, named in honor of three current hierarchs in the Antiochian church, are: The Patriarch John X Scholarship, The Metropolitan Joseph Scholarship, and The Bishop Thomas Scholarship.

Over 80 clergy and lay youth and camp workers gathered in Dallas, TX for this year's Orthodox Camp and Youth Workers' Conference. This annual conference is sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Camp Association and the leaders of all the different jurisdiction's youth departments. The Orthodox Church in America hosted at their Saint Seraphim's Cathedral here in Dallas. There was a large delegation representing camping and youth ministry from the Antiochian Archdiocese led by His Grace Bishop Thomas.

Attached is the flyer for the Publications Center & AV Bookstore Pre-Lenten Sale that is running in February. The sale features the Little Compline / Akathist books, as well as the Presanctified Liturgy books. There is a considerable quantity discount on them, so parishes can get sufficient copies for their faithful. In addition, there are two books for good Lenten reading.

On Sunday, January 31, 2016 in St. Vladimir's Seminary's Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, the Board of Trustees and Faculty will award a Doctor of Canon Law degree honoris causa to former St. Vladimir's Trustee and Antiochian Archdiocese Chancellor, Charles Richard Ajalat. The ceremony will be followed by the 33rd Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture, offered by the Reverend Dr. John Chryssavgis, Archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The academic convocation and lecture will begin at 7 p.m. on the St. Vladimir's Yonkers, NY campus.

Charles Ajalat was born into a pious Antiochian Orthodox family, and as a young man earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, and then a doctoral degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.

As an outstanding lay leader in the Antiochian Archdiocese, his influence has been felt throughout many Orthodox Christian communities in North America. Charles has been a key figure in many efforts, some of which are:

~the founding of the first conference of canonical Orthodox bishops of SCOBA, at Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA, which together with its follow-up conferences are the predecessors to the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of the United States of America

On December 20, 2015, by the Grace of God and the blessings of Sayidna Anthony (Michaels), bishop of Toledo and the Midwest, the parish community of St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Sylvania (Toledo), Ohio came together in a “Double Celebration” event: the consecration of the new holy utensils for the altar and the consecration of the newly constructed St. Elias Little Miracles Montessori School. Archpriest Ayman Kfouf inaugurated both projects shortly after being assigned to St. Elias as the new pastor in November, 2013. Sayidna Anthony's visit thus represented the successful culmination of over two years of hard work by the people and pastor of St. Elias’ Church.

His Grace Bishop Anthony presided over a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. The parishioners with friends and families joined the divine services in praises and thanksgiving. During the sermon, Sayidna Anthony affirmed that God took on our humanity out of love for us and to redeem the fallen nature of our humanity and to raise us to new and everlasting life with Him, in communion with His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and by His Holy Spirit.

On Friday, January 8, 2016, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph hosted a dinner at the Archdiocesan Headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey in honor of His Excellency Antoine Chedid, Ambassador of Lebanon to the United States, on the occasion of his retirement. Ambassador Chedid has distinguished himself as a man of peace and positive action, and is well loved and respected by all who have come to work with him and know him.

The dinner was attended by many members of the clergy from various denominations, as well as members of the diplomatic corps. Metropolitan Joseph honored Ambassador Chedid by awarding him the Medal of the Order of St. Raphael, the highest award given by the Antiochian Archdiocese.

Fr. John Hamatie brought Holy Communion to Selwa on her 95th birthdayThe Central Florida community of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church of downtown Orlando is saddened to share the news of the passing into eternal rest of one of the communities eldest and dearest members, Mrs. Selwa Hiresh, originally of Lebanon.

Mrs. Hiresh, aged 95, lived a life focused on her love of Jesus Christ and living in the way that God would have wanted her to have lived.

Selwa had the most beautiful smile and everyone who ever met her instantly became friends with this dear classy lady.

She and her late husband +Michel had been blessed to have had four children: Mitri, (LouLou), Samia (Kamal), Sammy (Karen), and Lillian (Farid). Selwa was blessed with ten grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and the dearest of friends. Selwa for many many years attended St. George's and always wanted to go to church to light a candle. She loved church.

For all Priests, Deacons, Readers and Parishes:The AV Bookstore announces their January White Sale!Purchase The Liturgikon ($50) and The Book of the Epistles ($60) for $30.00 each, no limit!

Greetings and Blessings in the Name of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ!

We are pleased to present and commend the tireless effort of Dr. Adnan Trabulsi in compiling and editing this monumental work of The Complete Works of St. Raphael Hawaweeny that are being published collectively for the first time in Arabic as a three volume set. By his work, Dr. Trabulsi has assured that the legacy of this great saint will not only be preserved, but will be made known to the many Arabic-speaking people both inside and outside of America who have not yet come to know St. Raphael.

This set of three volumes is being made available for the first time in Arabic and includes the writings of this Antiochian saint that were originally published in the "WORD" magazine from 1905 to 1915.

Faithtree is a parish-based ministry that provides educational programs from a Traditional Orthodox Christian context in the language of our day, to equip families in North America to live what they believe. Faithtree launched The Pursuit, a four-week long conversation for men this month.

The material presented in The Pursuit is taught by seasoned Orthodox clergy and theologians from multiple Orthodox Christian jurisdictions. It includes teachings on men as servant-leaders, men in relationships, overcoming obstacles that stand in the way of authentic manhood, and the pursuit of God in community.

"The Rise of Scripture" is a new audio publication recently released by the Orthodox Center for the Advancement of Biblical Studies (OCABS). In this seminal work on the formation of the Bible, Fr. Paul Tarazi examines "the who, when, where, and why of Scripture and its purpose." Tarazi's presentation offers listeners a rare glimpse into the painstaking work of biblical scholarship. At each turn, he bolsters his groundbreaking thesis with meticulous detail, drawing upon decades of research in his field. "The Rise of Scripture" audio teaching is a total of 14 hours, 25 minutes.

Memory Eternal! Father Richard Peters of Williamston, MI, died at home on December 23, 2015. He was 78.

He was also born at home—the second of three sons born to Bertha and Dietrich Peters—on April 3, 1937, in Lansing. He graduated from Eaton Rapids high school, where he excelled in baseball, football, and basketball. He matriculated at Central Michigan University, where he met Janet Briggs of Scottville, Michigan. They were married in 1957.

A history major and ROTC cadet at Central, he was elected Student Body President his senior year, 1958, and was a Distinguished Military Graduate. He was a commissioned officer and an Airborne Ranger in the United States Army.